An international guitar festival and competition will be held in Taipei this month to promote the development of guitar-based music in the country, organizers said yesterday.
The guitar festival, to be held from Aug. 5 through Aug. 13, will feature guitar recitals by six accomplished or emerging guitarists from Taiwan and abroad at the Hsin-Chuang Landmark Inn in the city’s Sinjhuang District (新莊).
“The salon-style concerts will allow audiences to see internationally renowned guitarists such as Berta Rojas perform up close,” said Chou Hsing-chuan, a member of the Liu Lan Cultural Foundation’s team which is organizing the event.
The festival will also include a gala concert, featuring guitar solos and ensembles, on Aug. 12 at Taipei’s National Concert Hall.
An opening ceremony at Sinjhuang Stadium and Sports Park will start the festival on Aug. 5 and showcase guitar and folk art performances. Admission is free.
A music camp will be held during the festival to give aspiring guitarists, or those interested in learning more about the instrument, a rare opportunity to take lessons with international masters, Chou said.
Camp participants will also be able to compete in a guitar contest to be held on Aug. 9 and Aug. 11.
The first-place winner will receive US$10,000 in prize money and a hand-made guitar valued at US$13,000. The second-place winner will receive US$5,000 and a guitar worth US$8,000, while the third-place winner will earn US$2,000 in cash and a US$3,000 guitar.
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